Demoliton continues full force on the old Joker’s complex.
The Mother’s Pizza side is completely smacked down now…
Compare the photo above to last Thursday…
Without the glass block windows on the upper level, the building looks like a toothless hobo.
It’s a shame, with those chrome awnings and holes for neon tubes, I bet this buidling was quite a stunner in the middle of the last century.
A few sections of glass block remain still on the Elliott St. side.
A view from the Pelissier St. side. The Mother’s building is down to a few courses of brick.
The same view this past Saturday afternoon.
Are they keeping the glass blocks for a possible future project, any idea ?
I seem to recall that there was a Mac’s convenience store in the front corner of the Joker’s building. Does anyone remember that or do I have the wrong place.
Guido you’re right – the history of the two buildings can be found here:
http://internationalmetropolis.com/?p=483
I saw them take the glass block off one by one yesterday. I drove past it several times yesterday and that’s all they did. Suprisingly, I never expected them to treat that building so delicately; I thought they’d just rip it apart with the killdozers in a day. Maybe, they’ll keep it.
No way David, that building is being stripped for demo.
Likely they are removing “debris” that could fall out to the street. The building is a steel frame constrution, the wall are pruely decorative and not structural. If they are not removed when they whack the building the bicks and blocks, etc… will tumble all over the place.
I am surprised that they didn’t move the Canada Post mail box near Elliot and Pelissier. It’s surrounded by the demolition fencing.
You can see the mailbox in the last two photos.
I wonder if the new structure(s) would keep the same footprint or leave room for blacktop parking. Hopefully the new structure also addresses an improved pelissier/elliot corner facade.
So much for the city wanting to “help” downtown. So much for their wanting to understand how a real downtown works. Nah! They will keep doing what they have always done, parking lot, parkig lot, crappy buliding, parking lot and then wonder why their streetscape hasn’t brought anyone downtown. Just more lip service from a city that gives a shit only for the money that is paid today.
I hope no one tried to mail a letter before they put up the fencing.
Scooter, I did notice today there was a peice of paper taped to it that said “Do Not Use”.
This certainly is what I’ve been waiting for. More parking spaces so I can park and take in all the closed businesses in downtown Windsor.
In late summer all the buzz will be about the Detroit G P, which does very little for downtown Windsor, except of course the major chain hotels and of course our no smoking casino.
More photo op’s for Fast Eddie.Zoom goes our tax increases to pay for our glamorous east-end arena.
Close Windsor, and move it all to Tecumseh.
I remember the signs in Detroit during the flurry of pre-Superbowl demolitons…
“Demolition Means Progress”.
Most of the progress is still vacant lots a few years later. Something I have a feeling is going to grace this site.
I guess you’re right, but a guy can dream.
I doubt it’s gonna be a parking lot for long. I heard it’s gonna be another Tim Horton’s. They closed the other two on Giles and Goyeau because the city wouldn’t allow them to have drive through at those locations due to small lot size. As a recall from a year ago, the empty parcel next to the Paramount was listed for $1.3 million. Here, they got a similar sized parcel for half a million plus another $50,000? for demoliition. Seems cheaper to just demolish buildings for the land in this city.
It wouldn’t suprise me if a Tim Horton’s did go there. That is our city council for you. The same drab buildings you can find anywhere in any town. Isn’t it nice to see that our own city is willing to destroy the little density we have left in our downtown? Why not make it look like a suburban strip mall. We can be like everyone else!